Olivia Smoliga celebrates with a teammate during swimming trials in June. | USA Swimming / Twitter
Olivia Smoliga celebrates with a teammate during swimming trials in June. | USA Swimming / Twitter
A Glenview native is an Olympic medalist after helping the U.S. women's 4X100 freestyle relay team earn a spot in the finals.
Last week, Olivia Smoliga and her teammates took the bronze medal at the event after competing in the prelims.
The rest of the relay team was rounded out by Catie DeLoof and Allison Schmitt.
For Smoliga, a 2013 Glenbrook High School graduate, the new medal will be added to her impressive resume, which already includes a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Glenbrook High School District 225 Superintendent Charles Johns told Journal & Topics that Smoliga was an inspiration, much like the rest of the student body.
“We know that so many of our students leave our schools to engage with the world in so many wonderful ways. The stories of their wonderful success is always very gratifying,” Johns said. “Each success reflects well on the work that was done in our district and community to provide an environment in which students can discover and fulfill their passions. It was gratifying to see the news of Olivia Smoliga, a 2013 graduate, who was a part of the bronze medal-winning team in Tokyo.”
In order to prepare for the Olympic Games, she practiced at the USA Swimming Olympic training center in Honolulu where she was itching for the adrenaline of competition.
“I still crave the real thing,” Smoliga told The Chicago Tribune.
Smoliga began swimming at 6 years old and realized she had a natural ability that she needed to cultivate, according to her Olympic profile.
"I think like any kid, I started swimming lessons when I was 4 or 5 and it really started to get serious for me around fifth grade,” she said. “I started swimming for my club. Then I realized my abilities as a swimmer and I just got a lot more serious then."
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